I today’s gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of a nobleman about to receive a kingship who left on a journey to obtain the kingship coming to him. Before he left, he gave 10 servants a gold coin and instructed them to use the coin to engage in trade. Essentially, they were to do something with the one gold coin that would benefit the nobleman chosen to be king.

Upon his return, only one of three men he called before him invested the coin to make more money in the act of investing. Always a risk. But one of the servant kept his gold coping hidden in a handkerchief, refusing to do anything with the coin out of fear that he might lose the coin in the risk of investment. He CLUNG to the coin. Fear controlled him.

The nobleman returned and was furious with this man for hiding the coin and clinging to it, through fear and assuming the nobleman would do the work of investing. “Clinging”is a harsh sounding word and its reality can cause much pain. Clinging to hope when you’re at wits end is one thing, but clinging to money, job security, an award, a position of power and authority, any addiction is quite another. These types of “clinging” suffocate and drain life of energy.

What do you cling to?